Ganesha meets with Brahma

After mulling over the explanations, Ganesha wanted to get to the bottom and understand the behaviour of his devotees, as well as Mooshik’s classification of enlightened ones. Ganesha had a sneaking doubt, whether his sit-in companion was trying to pull a fast one, to get even with the devotees for not worshipping him? Setting his doubts aside, Ganesha started talking to Mooshik. 

Mooshik, what makes these devotees to behave like this?

How would I know? Mooshik gave a terse reply.

Who would and could clear my doubt?

Have you not heard that saying -when in doubt, play the trumpet card! Another disinterested reply.

What trump card and who has it?

Who else other than the Creator of these devotees! A curt reply.

Oh, if that is the case, let us go over and meet with Brahma. Long eons have passed since I had a one-to-one with him... 

With a reluctant Mooshik accompanying him, Ganesha reached Brahma Lok. 

Brahma reminisced, “How could I forget the shower bath Ganesha gave me, from his trunk filled with river water?”

Ganesha recollected, "How could I forget the divine relationship between us notwithstanding the pranks, I played?"  Their eons old tete-a -tete was playing in mind, Brahma welcomed Ganesha with open arms and broad smiles. Not privy to this bonding chemistry between them, Mooshik looked on in confusion. Observing this, Brahma flashed a smile of acknowledgement at him, which thrilled Mooshik. 

Now, Ganesha what brings you here?

Mooshik has come up with a curious definition on types of enlightened ones and a puzzling finding on the behaviour of devotees. In fact, Mooshik made an impressive presentation, covering a spectrum of devotees using coloured panels. 

Brahma said, “Indeed, it was very interesting to hear and watch. I mean, the explanation as well as the presentation.”

Ganesh was shocked but could not accuse Brahma of eavesdropping. How could he ?  He himself was guilty of overhearing Mooshik’s mumblings! With tongue in cheek, he asked, “Can you clear my doubts?”

“Enlightenment is perspective driven. For example, the layers of bricks are content in having been used to support the last layer to finish the work. At the same time the top layer thinks about the layers of bricks which brought it to this exalted position. From each one's perspective this happiness or gratitude is enlightenment.” 

What is your next doubt. Is it regarding the classification Mooshik had come up with, on this subject? 

Yes, indeed. 

“Enlightenment is like an abstract painting or a latent characteristic. It has to be felt, experienced and interpreted. Vocalising on it or about it, is like beating a drum in wilderness. Who will hear it? If it is done for getting appreciated, then it is no more an enlightenment than a burnt-out wick. This burnt-out wick is the lesson wisdom will eventually teach to those categories, classified by Mooshik, and by recognising that truth the drum beater would become an enlightened one!

Ganesha, note the subtle manner in which Mooshik had used the past, present and future - a product from the time scale, invented by humans. Mooshik had chosen it as a tool of wisdom to teach a lesson to these classes of enlightened ones!  Here, he had come up with an interesting concept by referring to past, present and future for these enlightened ones. There is a clever reminder that their so-called arbitrary scale named time also has a past, present and future, however small it would be made to suit their convenience. In this reminder, he had vested a future beyond the current future of the smallest fraction of time.” 

Ganesha felt like an errant disciple, getting his ears tweaked hard. Looking for a way out, he asked, “I am not seeing him here, where is Chitragupta?”

Brahma quipped, “He is on a secret mission to places unknown to anyone. Are getting upset with my lecture or by Mooshik’s acute thinking?”

Denying any such thoughts, Ganesha hurriedly replied, “I felt, the next part about the painted panels and devotees would probably interest Chitragupta to come up with a different perspective. That is why I enquired about him.”

Brahma continued “This what is my opinion on the subject of colours. It has shades of philosophy. Mooshik made the statement that no colour is pristine pure. The white light is a combination of red, blue and green colours. Citing nature as an example, he had made it universal and easy to understand. 

Regarding your dilemma about the behavioural pattern, the explanation is long and starts from the dawn of awareness in mankind. Awareness of fear of unknown sowed the seeds of devotion. Time was another such awareness and this played a crucial role, later.  Over a period, this devotion grew and spread among more groups of people. This gathering, forming the backbone of devotion, became the devotees.  

Don’t you know that whenever more of another quantity is added, the original concentration gets diluted.  This holds good for devotion and devotees too. People naturally started to vary the proportions to find out what happens? Here curiosity played a key role. You may wonder why people should be born to be curious. How else will I make them to learn about themselves and their environment? From then on, it is like a cart on a slope. It keeps going till a break down occurs or brake is applied or exhausts all its energy.  

I will explain why devotees behave as pointed out by Mooshik. You know that experiments sometimes go out of control, yielding unexpected outcomes? Precisely, that is happening here. The reason is the search for an easy-to-fix solution for a problem, that confronts so many in different geographical locations. Each affected person considers it unique and labels ‘self’ as a victim, and stands in front of deities. Then depending on the success and failure rates of the pleas, and fall into any one of the categories described.

Dear Ganesha, Gajamukhasura after becoming Mooshik has come a long way. He had shed arrogance and in place has filled up with the wisdom of delving deep into human relationship with their deities. In this analysis, he has showcased his knack in ferreting out their inner thinking. What a lucid explanation he had given about enlightenment, by presenting a thought-provoking canvas on devotees of various types!

I know the real reason why you came to me?  Not seeking clarification but to present your achievement in turning an Asura into an erudite scholar. Well done, Ganesha. If I could not guess this much, then what would be the use for our mutually alternating roles of a guru and shishya will have?” 

Mission accomplished, Ganesha was getting ready to leave but Brahma's words prevented him from doing so.  

"Ganesha, there is one more doubt in your mind. You wanted to but refrained from asking about it. Is it not?"

Mooshik was confused with this new turn in the discussions and tried to guess what it could be.  Ganesha, sensing what was coming, squirmed in the seat uncomfortably. This silent tableau reminded Mooshik of a mouse caught in a trap.  

Brahma continued, "Nature itself does not remain constant forever - stars are born, age and explode or quietly shut down. Likewise, the genes in humans have been changing from the time when fear held the key to the present when they have the tools to seek and produce scientific explanations. 

This is one side of the story. The other contributors are the devotees themselves - neither self-confident nor willing to place absolute faith in the deities. dispensations They desire to ride partly on self-confidence and partly on faith. In this process, and for variety, they vary the percentages in both these options, taking it as a game of permutation and combination. You wanted to know what role am I playing here? Let me make it clear. The devotees are the look out of deities, and I have no role or a trump card to play. I hope, now, you have the answer for your unasked doubt!” 

Ganesha accepted Brahma's observations. Mooshik, who remained observant and silent, wondered why to come all the way here, to hear Brahma praising Ganesha and me!  They could have conversed on these issues directly. Later, Ganesha could have simply shared the essence of this conversation, on earth itself!

The all-knowing look from Ganesha indicated the plan- back to earth and face the devotees. Where else his, a constant sit-in companion, could he be?